Douce France ("Sweet France") is a 138 feet luxury sailing catamaran design by VPLP design and built by Alumarine in Brittany (France).[1] At its launch in 1998, she was the largest sailing cat ever built and won most innovative Sailing Yacht 1999 - Showboats Design Awards.[2] It was built at Alu Marine also underwent a refit in 2009 and 2015.[3] The exterior and interior design was done overall by Peteghem & Lauriot Prevost (VPLP design). [4] The vessel is known for a panoramic window interior lounge, one of the areas along with the teak wood aft deck, upper level cockpit, and the interior cabins in the twin hulls.[5]
The Douce France was the largest sail catamaran in the World, and significant step from previous designs in this history of these type of vessels.[6] Douce France has been analyzed in attempts to build similar large sailing catamarans especially for luxury cruising.[7]
Douce France has a displacement of 120 tons and has a range of 3500 nautical miles, for up to 12 guests and 8 crew.[8] Typical sail cruise speed is 9 knots and maximum speed under sail is 19 knots.[9] This vessel has twin diesel engines and can motor at 12 knots.[10] The hulls are made of aluminum.[11]
Typically operating as Charter vessel in the South Pacific, it has six cabins and has various items to support hospitality business, such as wine cellar and various tenders.[12]
Specifications:[13]
As of 2018 the vessel is flagged to Belgium.[16]
Design firm was VPLP design and it was built at Chantier Naval Alumarine in 1998.[17]
The same design firm went on make an even larger sailing catamaran, the 145 foot Hemisphere.[18] The sponsors of that yacht spent time aboard the Douce France, which aided in developing that yacht which was completed in 2011.[19] Unlike Douce France, Hemisphere has quarters outside the hulls and additional deck but carried on tradition of a large deck area.[20]